New Law Requires Training for All Drivers Under 21 In Ohio

In 2025, Ohio enacted a law expanding driver’s education requirements to include all young drivers under age 21. Effective September 30, 2025, any person 20 years old or younger (under 21) applying for a first Ohio driver’s license must complete the state’s full driver training program. Previously, only 16- and 17-year-olds were mandated to take formal driver’s education, but the new law aligns 18-, 19-, and 20-year-olds with the same training process required for teens. This change was prompted by safety concerns – for example, 18- and 19-year-olds accounted for 58% of fatal crashes caused by teen drivers in Ohio last year. Lawmakers hope that extending training to all drivers under 21 will improve skills and reduce crashes among young motorists.

Required Driver Education Components Under the 2025 Law

Under the new law, drivers under 21 must complete the full Class D driver’s education course before they can be licensed. This course consists of several components, mirroring the requirements long in place for teen drivers:

• 24 hours of classroom or online instruction: Taken with a state-approved driver education provider, covering topics like motor vehicle operation, Ohio traffic laws, and road signs. This can be completed in a traditional classroom setting or through an Ohio-approved online course.
• 8 hours of behind-the-wheel training: Supervised in-car instruction with a licensed driving instructor, typically arranged through the driving school. The student practices driving maneuvers and safe driving habits under professional guidance during these sessions.
• 50 hours of supervised practice driving: Additional driving practice with an experienced licensed adult (age 21 or older) outside of class. At least 10 of the 50 hours must be at night (after sunset) to ensure experience with nighttime driving. This practice is usually done with a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult mentor in the passenger seat.

All of the above training must be completed in full before the applicant can schedule a road test with the Ohio Driver License Examiner. In other words, new drivers under 21 will not be allowed to take the driving skills test or obtain a license until they have finished the 24 hours of coursework, 8 hours of in-car training, and 50 logged practice hours. This is a firm legal requirement – not just a recommendation. Driving schools and the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) emphasize that planning ahead is important so that young drivers can meet these requirements in time for their desired licensing date.

Enrolling in an Approved Driver Training Course

To comply with the new law, prospective drivers under 21 must enroll in an Ohio-approved driver’s education course. The Ohio Department of Public Safety maintains a searchable database of authorized “Class D” driving schools and online programs statewide. Teens and young adults can use this resource to find certified driving schools in their area or approved online courses. Parents and students should look for programs that are officially licensed by the Ohio Department of Public Safety – only those will satisfy the 24-hour classroom requirement under the law. Both traditional classroom courses (often offered at driving schools or even high schools) and BMV-approved online courses cover the same state-required curriculum and count toward the 24-hour instruction mandate. When signing up, make sure to verify the school or online provider is on the Ohio BMV’s approved list.

For the 8 hours of behind-the-wheel training, the driving school providing the course will schedule in-car sessions with a licensed instructor once the classroom/online portion is underway or completed. These sessions are usually conducted in a dual-control “student driver” vehicle. Driving schools coordinate the in-car training directly with the student; if you take an online classroom course, you will still need to arrange the behind-the-wheel portion with a local driving school. The Ohio Traffic Safety Office has indicated that a variety of providers are available to meet the increased demand, and new drivers can begin the required training now even before the law’s effective date – any training completed in 2025 will count once the law is in force. It’s advisable to start the process early, as driving courses may fill up quickly around the implementation date.

Financial assistance may be available for those who need help paying for driver’s education. The state continues to offer grants from the Ohio Traffic Safety Office to help low-income students afford the required training, as initiated in previous budgets. Eligible families can inquire with the Ohio BMV or their driving school about any subsidy or voucher programs that offset the cost of the course.

Logging and Verifying 50 Hours of Practice Driving

In addition to the formal instruction, new drivers under 21 must complete 50 hours of supervised practice driving with an adult and document these hours. An “eligible adult” (defined as a parent, guardian, or custodian, or an adult 21+ acting in that role) must supervise the learner during these practice drives. At least 10 hours of the practice must occur at night (between a half hour after sunset and a half hour before sunrise). This requirement is identical to the longstanding practice requirement for teenagers in Ohio.

To track these hours, it is recommended that the student or parent keep a driving log noting the date, length of drive, and conditions (day or night) for each practice session. Ohio’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles provides an official form, the Fifty Hour Affidavit (Form BMV 5791), which must be used to certify completion of the practice hours. Once the 50 hours are finished, the supervising adult will fill out this affidavit form, attesting that the learner has completed the required practice (including the nighttime hours). The form must be signed in the presence of a notary public and notarized. This notarized affidavit will need to be submitted to the BMV or examiner when the young driver goes to take the road test as proof of the completed practice requirement. Falsifying the affidavit is a legal offense, so the hours should be logged honestly and carefully.

The Ohio BMV updated the official 50-hour affidavit form in 2025 to include a detailed log section, meaning families should record each drive diligently to ensure accurate reporting. Many driving schools provide sample log sheets or even smartphone apps to help track driving practice. By maintaining a complete log and getting the affidavit properly notarized, new drivers can smoothly demonstrate their compliance with the 50-hour rule when it’s time for their driving test.

Additional Information and Tips

Permit Holding Period: Notably, the new law does not change the learner’s permit holding period for adults. Drivers aged 18–20 are not required to hold a temporary instruction permit for six months before taking the road test (the six-month waiting rule still only applies to younger teens under Ohio’s graduated licensing). This means an 18-, 19-, or 20-year-old can complete the training and practice hours and go for the license test without a long mandatory permit period – but they must have finished all training requirements first. Of course, a temporary permit is still required to practice drive legally; new drivers should obtain a learner’s permit by passing the knowledge and vision tests at the BMV before beginning behind-the-wheel practice. However, once the permit is issued, adult learners can proceed at their own pace to complete the education and practice benchmarks, rather than being tied to a minimum time frame.

Out-of-State or Existing Licenses: The expanded training law applies to new license applicants under 21. If an individual under 21 already holds a full driver’s license from another state, they are generally not required to take Ohio’s driver training to transfer their license, although they should verify Ohio BMV’s reciprocity rules. The main intent is to ensure that anyone in Ohio under age 21 getting their first license has gone through comprehensive driver education. Certain temporary residents (e.g. international students) under 21 may also be subject to these requirements unless they have a valid license from specific countries with license reciprocity agreements (for example, Canada or Germany, per BMV rules). It’s best to check with the Ohio BMV if you are a new Ohio resident under 21 with a foreign or out-of-state license to understand if the training requirement applies.

Compliance and Next Steps: Teens, young adults, parents, and driving instructors should all prepare for this change. Driving schools in Ohio are updating their programs to accommodate older students and ensuring online courses are available for flexibility. If you or your teen will be under 21 and seeking a license after September 30, 2025, plan to enroll in a driver’s education course early and budget enough time to complete all 24 classroom hours and 8 in-car hours. Simultaneously, work on accumulating the 50 practice hours with a family member or mentor. The Ohio BMV’s online scheduling system will require confirmation that training is completed before a driving test can be booked. By understanding the new requirements and following the steps outlined above, young drivers and their families can ensure they remain in compliance with Ohio’s 2025 driver education law and be well-prepared for the responsibility of driving.